PSA: Windows 8 Consumer Preview is Out

[Xevan]

Otherwise known as a beta: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/iso

Get.

[dawawe]

Getting.
10

[Bakis]

3 pc's but cant afford a buggy UI on any of them atm.
Would love to test both Win8 and a Win mobile phone

[Cynadra]

3 pc's but cant afford a buggy UI on any of them atm.
Would love to test both Win8 and a Win mobile phone

Just get Oracle VM VirtualBox and test it out that way.

[haxartus]

10 minutes with it was enough.
I don't like it and I will be skipping this Windows version.

[Rexxr]

10 minutes with it was enough.
I don't like it and I will be skipping this Windows version.

Same here waiting till next version.

[Sealbinder]

I will wait until it is complete then make a decision. I have a few friends who work for Microsoft so I can get legal copies for free from them as gifts (it costs them shipping which I pay for). They are allowed to distribute a number of copies for friends and family with no charge from the employee store.

[Zoneseek]

Will be nice to see this go on tablet hardware. Worlds first tablet that I will actually use for more then just finding a RDP app, lol?

[ati87]

On cnet it shows how W8 works and it seems you can switch to old style by just clicking desktop.

if that is true my biggest complained is gone but it still feels a bit more complicated then it should be.

[Urti]

Just scoped a beta on a bud's laptop. It's a drastic change if nothing else. I think a LOT of people are prolly goona utilize that "classic desktop" feature. It did seem to zip along pretty quick though. Also, Microsoft, what does W8 mean by "App Command"?

[MadMiller20]

It seems to me that Windows hits or misses it. Remember Windows Vista? It was horrible. Shortly after, they created 7 which is great. Do you think 8 will be a hit or miss? There will always be bugs that need to be worked out but after updates, it should work its way out. However, with Vista, I was never satisfied. I hate to waste energy and money on a new version until it has been introduced and reviewed by a lot of users.

[Fuzzzie]

I'll check it out and try it on my laptop maybe.

Moving to the computers forum too.

[Deleted]

Installed it and got it working on my "work" PC. Meh, I don't like it. As others have stated, it feels too much like a tablet OS and with the seemingly stripped-down "normal" desktop I'll most likely pass.

[Deleted]

Well, my friend used since Developers Preview (or something). Basicly it's a little improved under the hood Windows 7 with better start menu. Ofcourse, he said that as start menu is new, first reactions ofcourse were "FUUUUUUUUU BRING BACK THE OLD MENU!!!!!!", but later it became worth all those millions spent in research by Microsoft.

I trust his judgement.

[Mister K]

For those of you either skeptical or eager to check out what's been cooking at Microsoft these past few months since the developer preview was made available, the long awaited day has finally come.


Before going into detail of what's new and included, here are the download links:

• 
  Windows 8 Consumer Preview 32-bit download (2.5GB)
  
• 
  Windows 8 Consumer Preview 64-bit download (3.3GB)

You will need a product key upon installation to activate the Consumer Preview, for the English version this will do:

DNJXJ-7XBW8-2378T-X22TX-BKG7J

Microsoft decided not to label this preview as a beta as in previous versions. Beyond a simple denomination, we believe Microsoft is trying to convey this is already a stable operating system built on top of the strong foundation established by Windows 7. Having that said, from a usability and visual standpoint, Windows 8 carries the most radical changes we've seen in the OS in over a decade.


In pure Apple-style marketing, Steven Sinofsky, head of the Windows Division, announced today during a MWC presentation that the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 has over 100,000 changes since the Developer Preview released last year.


Key features and additions in the Consumer Preview include the Metro-style dashboard (the new Start screen for Windows), Internet Explorer 10 and other wide range of Metro-style apps that include Mail, Photos, Video, People, Xbox Live, Messaging, among others. The Windows software store is fully functional in the Consumer Preview, Skydrive cloud storage integration, and Windows Explorer enhancements that we had detailed in the past, including the introduction of a ribbon interface, better support for multiple monitors, and the list goes on.


Windows 8 is meant to be a tablet-ready operating system, with a myriad of features dedicated to touch input (zooming, turning, pinching, etc.), however a very small percentage of users downloading and using it today will be paying attention to such. Tablet hardware optimized to run Windows 8 is not expected until later this year.


Even though this is not a final release, Microsoft is already touting speed improvements and optimizations that are part of the Windows 8 upgrade. System requirements are the same as in Windows 7, but the software giant seems confident to say Windows 8 will provide better performance and reliability, quicker startup times and improved battery life.


Other tools also available today:

• 
  PlayReady PC Runtime 2.3 for Windows 8 CP
  
• 
  Remote Server Administration Tools 1 for Windows 8 CP

Article supplied from: ~Techspot

Images of Metro UI:


http://www.mobiletechworld.com/wordp...8-UI-Metro.jpg
http://teknowlodgy.com/wp-content/up...ndows-7-02.png

Feature List

 
Battery Life
    Time/Battery/Date/Network status
    Browser
    Protection against app (…)/ malware scan
    Apps are certified
     Pre-boot reset
     OEM Activation
     Windows Adapts To Your Location
     Hardening For Genuine
     Powershell Support
     Spotlight
     Integrated Load Balancing
     Pre-Install
     Identity Management Service – Live Integration
     SendTo
     Windows Performance Analyzer
     Desktop Apps
     Key Management Services
     Start
     Multi Hand (…)
     BitLocker Self-encrypting Drive
     Credential Management interface
     Tile groupings
     Files Folders Search
     Tiles
     Optional Public Key Infrastructure
     Faster resume from hibernation
     Application package
     Always On Always Connected
     Windows update maintenance scheduler integration
     Windows logo kit
     Reliable rollback
     PCI for efficiency / PCI 3.0 for performance
     Richedit
     Certification status
     My Apps
     Developer portal
     Task manager – users view
     native code (…)
     Reader
     Animation in HTML
     BitLocker data-only encryption
     Factory reset
     Remote lab exchange
     Ratings reviews reputation & report a problem
     JavaScript control model
     Task manager small app view
     Templates and (…)
     Application bar developer services
     Maintenance scheduler API
     Wi-Fi hotspot authentication
     Consumer refund
     Windows hardware development center
     New developer (…)
     International updates
     Application bar
     Unified (…) DirectAccess Server (…)
     PrintTo
     Windows runtime components
     Figures in CSS
     Automatic updates
     System settings
     Offline setup
     (…) taskbar
     Localized experience
     Out of box experience
     Client hyper-V
     Handwriting input panel
     Items management
     Recommendation engine
     (…) boot
     HTML5 video control
     System notifications
     (…) fragmentation (…) enhancements
     Windows (…) user (…)
     (…) 3d party (…)
     Windows engineering services
     TRM as Smartcard
     Text prediction and auto correction
     (…) usage assessments
     Instant on
     Task manager
     Device state (…)
     Maintenance time configuration
     Device uninstall
     Exclusive
     Device makers integrate with windows device (…)
     Off (…) domain join
     Task manager app history tab
     Spotlight on quality benchmarked
     (…)-centric reliability reporting
     SendTo contract
     Modern experience assessment
     Content tiles
     Stereo 3D video and gaming
     GoldenImage reset
     Easily discover apps that supporting a language
     Search
     Device setup
     (…) background
     New OEM and Cop help customization
     Hardware button (…) overlay
     (…) keyboard
     (…) unified extensible firmware interface
     Get my printer working basic functionality
     My media plays to digital media receivers
     Users are confident using devices & networking in modern apps
     (…) geolocation
     Windows deployment services
     Modern boot
     Device companion apps
     Windows sense orientation and lighting
     Application update
     DirectX 11
     Footprint reliability and performance
     Improvements in registry
     Support for ipv4-only servers
     Transistors in animation
     Windows inbox component repair
     Windows logon
     OEM activation 3.0
     Manufacturing driver assessment
     Optimized for web delivery
     Enhance copy experience
     Switching
     Devs get to set the geo and price
     Improved proxy configuration and authentication
     Enhanced file explorer
     Input switching
     Notification contract
     (…) firmware interface
     Graphics output protocol
     Music player
     Foreground application responsiveness
     Secure low-fragmentation help
     Windows performance recorder
     Windows driver kit
     Browse categories of the store
     All applications
     Connect (..)
     System hardening
     PlayTo
     Pre-install
     Licensing (…) framework for application developers
     windows update – automatic update and interactive are network aware
     streaming media assessment
     windows connected account
     printTo contract
     NAP
     windows assessment console
     lock screen & notifications
     windows update – enhanced driver targeting
     trusted platform module authentication
     new (..) help hub
     print server (…)
     task manager (..) dashboard
     always connected
     enterprice application deployment
     control styling
     BitLocker – network key protector
     bitLocker – extended suspend experience
     (…) management
     windows is sensor aware
     mobile broadband purchase experience
     (…) network aware
     application (…)
     connected frames
     auto-suggest search, history
     create windows live ID in Windows (…)
     advanced on/off options
     active directory activation
     modern SDK
     Phone as Smartcard
     language profile developer service
     application container
     language profile
     great webcam experience
     windows standard controls (…)
     windows update (…)
     optimized keyboard layouts
     native support of WiMAX and LTE
     fundamental assessments
     FAST (…) search
     windows connects My devices at super speed
     video player
     task manager – startup applications
     ribbon
     gestures manipulation (…)
     modern application license enforcement
     (…) reporting platform for new types of telemetry sharing
     spellchecking
     deployment image servicing & management tool
     animations
     multi-column layout
     charms bar
     re-acuire device app
     windows adapts to your location
     tile contract
     product description page
     troubleshooting diagnostics monitoring and (…)
     all day battery
     basic reset
     restore from usb-key
     trial
     radio management
     windows developments kits release (…) matches major OS release milestones
     app-to-app picker
     application install
     memory footprint assessment
     communicating over SMS on my PC
     task manager – large application view
     linking windows connected (…) to domain (…)
     online search / offline search
     windows update improved reboot experience
     content tile
     streamlined TPM (..)
     sources converter tool migration to modern experience
     tile updates
     fluid grid
     access to run tile
     getting notified about pending maintenance
     adaptive grid control
     share
     user switching improvements
     pause resume maintenance
     modern resource management
     access to settings & control panel
     splash screen contract
     access to other programs
     application compatibility tool kit
     extension ports
     settings charm
     visual studio professional
     (…) driver (…)
     windows hardware development center
     single portal
     improved on/off experience
     DA server single adapter support
     (…)-aware networking
     shared “data-playground” for Microsoft-partner collaboration
     input methop editor
     settings search
     windows preinstallation environment
     simpler print driver management and printer sharing in (…)
     windows development kits (…)
     maintenance on demand
     improved responsiveness with AV
     application context menu contract
     directaccess server scalability
     windows proximity experiences
     commerce engine – in application purchases
     application context menus
     web/local compartments
     client (…) search (…) integration and type ahead (…)
     (…) box control)
     parental controls
     video playback assessment
     system-wide dialogs
     flexible SIM-based connectivity
     bitlocker-recovery mode exclusions
     applications can tailor to the form factor and sensor
     photo and video import for phones and cameras
     dialogs
     faster boot
     (…) selection
     defender
     picture password
     submit to categories
     storage is fast and easy to use
     desktop activity moderator
     topics
     commerce engine – user payment
     common devices supported for modern apps
     early AV
     windows credential vault
     snapped apps
     remote (…)
     automatically (…) based on application UI/language
     filter apps that are accessible
     core OS suspend – resume (…)
     history vault
     on demand scrollbar
     windows boot experience
     retail upgrade media for windows 8
     dev portal – developer sign up and payment
     deep links
     automatic maintenance
     one-time password authentication
     bitlocker pre-provisoning
     file (…)
     earl Load anti-malware
     NAT support
     settings charm contract
     improved text prediction
     express setup
     genuine (…)
     system navigation
     single (…) tunnel
     app-to-app picker contract
     fast startup experience assessment
     wake alarm
     application signing
     finance reporting portal
     search contract
     stored value
     assessment execution engine
     connection manager
     windows hardware development center. easy/for partners
     windows update. modern updating experience
     webcam access
     assessment and deployment kit
     windows system assessment tool
     prompted for purchases – kids abuse
     enterprice client evaluation edition
     licensing – anti-piracy
     receipts
     projection
     ISO/VHD
     secure boot and (…)
     account management (…)
     (…) notification history
     windows server core support
     visual styles always on
     network connectivity assistant
     windows 8 full OS upgrade
     payTo contract
     file picker
     class driver
     bitlocker new properties and events
     snap contract
     DLL (…)
Source ~WinRumours

I made the quote into a code-tag to save space. Also, refrain from posting images with a width larger than 800 pixels.

[Libram]

Im interested in trying it out, I don't think I'll want it though :3

[Deleted]

long story short, Windows 8 is the windows 7 Mobile UI thrown on top of Windows 7.

I'm not saying this is particularly bad, but I didn't quite like the windows 7 mobile idea of "hey, just because we know you can scroll pretty much everywhere we're also gonna make you do just that".

if you're interested in that UI for windows 7 just download Rainmeter and a taskbar replacement and there you go.

[m2geek]

I just downloaded and installed it - and I must say its very snappy and I much prefer its window controls over windows 7.

I don't even mind Metro UI anymore - it used to bug me on the Old developer preview - ALTHOUGH I will miss the start button lol